Medicare Advantage

Baltimore's 2027 Medicare Advantage plans: how the HMO, HMO-POS and PPO split shakes out

Baltimore city has 24 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027. Compared with 2026, 9 plans are not coming back, 2 are new, and 9 continuing plans changed in some way you should check before December 7, 1 of them under a new name. This guide covers what those numbers mean for Baltimore, not which plan to pick.

Baltimore, Md. — As the Annual Enrollment Period opens Oct. 15, 2026, Baltimore shoppers comparing Medicare Advantage for 2027 will see a lineup that leans heavily one way: of the 24 plans offered in Baltimore city next year, 17 are HMOs, 3 are HMO-POS plans and 4 are PPOs. No PFFS (Private Fee-for-Service) plans are on the local 2027 menu. Which letters follow the plan name matter — they govern whether you need a referral, whether out-of-network care is covered, and how your doctors fit in.

How the 2027 Baltimore lineup splits by plan type

Baltimore is in Baltimore city, where Medicare plan availability is set at the county level. CMS's 2027 Landscape data for the county shows:

• HMO: 17 plans
• HMO-POS: 3 plans
• PPO: 4 plans
• PFFS: 0 plans

Combined, HMO-style plans (HMO plus HMO-POS) account for 20 of the 24 plans in the county, with PPOs making up the rest. The table below lists every plan returning or new for 2027, with its type and carrier.

What each plan type actually means

Plan type isn't a brand label — it's a set of rules about where you can get care.

HMO (Health Maintenance Organization). You pick a primary care provider and generally use doctors, hospitals and labs inside the plan's network. Many HMOs require a referral from your PCP to see a specialist. Out-of-network care usually isn't covered except in an emergency or urgent situation. If your doctors are all in one local system, an HMO can be a tidy fit; if you split time between states, it's worth a closer look.

HMO-POS (HMO with a Point-of-Service option). This is an HMO with a limited door to the outside. You still have a network and may still need referrals, but the "POS" option lets you use certain out-of-network providers for specific services, typically at a higher cost share. The exact services covered out-of-network vary by plan, so the Evidence of Coverage is the place to confirm.

PPO (Preferred Provider Organization). PPOs let you see any Medicare-approved provider who agrees to treat you, in or out of network. In-network care costs less; out-of-network care is covered but at a higher cost share. Referrals are generally not required. PPOs can appeal to people who travel, split the year between homes, or want flexibility to see a specialist directly.

PFFS (Private Fee-for-Service). PFFS plans set their own payment terms, and any Medicare-approved provider can choose to accept them visit by visit. PFFS plans aren't offered in Baltimore city for 2027.

No plan type is cheaper or better across the board — the trade-off is flexibility versus structure, and the answer depends on your doctors and how you use care.

Which carriers offer which type in 2027

For plan year 2027 in Baltimore city, CMS lists these carriers by plan type:

• HMO plans: Alterwood Advantage, Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC), CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage DualPrime, Johns Hopkins Advantage MD, Kaiser Permanente, KeyCare Advantage, UnitedHealthcare.
• HMO-POS plans: Kaiser Permanente, UnitedHealthcare.
• PPO plans: CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Medicare Advantage, UnitedHealthcare.

Some carriers appear in more than one column because they offer multiple plan types. The table below shows exactly which plan sits under which type.

What's changing from 2026 to 2027

The county went from 31 Medicare Advantage plans in 2026 to 24 in 2027, and the carrier count moved from 10 to 8. For next year, 9 plans are not returning, 2 are new and 1 is renamed. If you're already enrolled, your plan's Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) spells out exactly what's different for 2027 — networks, formularies and cost shares included. If you do nothing during AEP, and your plan is offered next year, it renews automatically on Jan. 1, 2027.

How to decide which type fits you

A few questions do most of the work:

• Who are my doctors, and are they in the network? Check each plan's online provider directory, or call the plan. If a doctor you rely on is out-of-network, an HMO may not cover visits to them at all; a PPO would, at a higher cost share.
• Do I want to go straight to specialists? HMOs often require a referral; PPOs generally don't.
• Do I spend time outside Maryland? PPOs travel better for routine care; HMOs cover emergencies anywhere but not routine out-of-area visits.
• What about my prescriptions? Every one of the 24 plans in the county for 2027 includes drug coverage, but formularies differ. The Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov lets you enter your drugs and compare.

Program-level numbers worth keeping in mind as you compare: in 2027, the Part D out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400 (from $2,100 in 2026), and the Part D maximum deductible rises to $700 (from $615 in 2026). CMS publishes the 2027 Part B standard premium, deductible, and IRMAA income brackets later in the fall.

Dates to put on the calendar

• Oct. 15 – Dec. 7, 2026: Annual Enrollment Period. Any change you make takes effect Jan. 1, 2027.
• Jan. 1 – Mar. 31, 2027: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period. If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch to a different MA plan or return to Original Medicare once during this window.

Nothing happens to someone who does nothing: your current plan renews if it's offered in 2027, with the changes described in the ANOC.